What a tournament!!! The top teams in the country were there: #2 Arraya-Jonason, #3 Broderick-Gambino, #4 Derose-Lubow and a #1/#5 combo Parsons-Bancila made it to Essex Fells. Who made it to the semis? Fatatek-Nadjeck vs Grangeiro-Wilkinson and Cosimano-LeFevre vs Arraya-Jonason. WOW!
Yes, WOW is right. Lots of upsets and a confirmation that the level of paddle in the North East keeps getting better and better. Paddle was incredible from the get go. In the round of 16s one of the best teams in the recent years, Scott Estes and Michael Cochrane, were playing together since their 2011 Short Hills win. After a 3-hours battle the defeated Mavrin-Misitrano 6-2, 6-7 (8), 6-3 to make it to the quarters. All other seeded/placed teams made it to the quarters and the show was about to begin.
Cosimano-Lefevre took care of business in a rematch from Nationals when they defeated 2013 Nationals Finalits Derose-Lubow in a quick 7-6, 6-2 match. Next team to finish was Arraya-Jonason with their win over Cochrane-Estes by 6-4, 7-5. The next quarters featured 2012 National champs Broderick-Gambino versus Marco Grangeiro and George Wilkinson. Who would have thought than the Brazilian-English duo was going to win in two sets? Maybe Marco and George and their moms. It was a 6-4, 6-4 win. Huge win! The last quarters had two big marquee names; Mark Parsons and Alex Bancila. Who won? Their opponents. Falatek-Nadjek are the team that never goes away. The Philly boys won by 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Now it was the turn of the semis. In a very fast pace and entertaining match Arraya-Jonason took care of business with another straight sets win: 7-6, 6-1 and their tickets to the final was secured. The second semis had the two Cinderellas but only one was going to come back Sunday morning to play against the defending champs. This time it was another impressive display of good paddle with almost no errors by Grangeiro-Wilkinson who won by a convincing 6-1, 6-1.
On Sunday morning both teams came to play. Arraya-Jonason were the favorites but after the upsets of the previous day no one wanted to bet money on anyone. A 7-5, 6-4 win by the Argentine-Swede duo gives them back the confidence they needed after Patterson. A win without dropping a set at Atlantic (it was a 3.375 NRT) gives Arraya-Jonason some extra points in their quest to catch du Randt-Parsons. Chicago Charities will be their next chance.
All other finals were as follows:
- Quarter Reprieve: Not played
- Reprieve: Mavrin-Misitrano def. O’Connor-Wakeford 6-2, 7-6 (6)
- Consolation: Stein-Chowdhury def. Shallcross-Ucko 7-6, 3-2 injury default
- Consolation Reprieve: Peck-Montalbano def. Furman-Adinolfi
Click HERE to access all results.
